Trolley-finder.



No. 742,311. v l PATENT-IED OCT. 2?-, 1903. P. A. GRAHAM, P. F. G-ARMIENCKE 6v J; R. NEBLY.

TROLLEY FINDER. APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 3o. 190s.

I 2 SHBETS-SHBBT l.

No MODEL.

DN@ m A Wwf 4 WASHINGTON n c No. 742.311. j v PATENTED`OGT.27,1903

F. A. GRAHAM, F. F. GARMIENCKE &-J. R. NEELY.

TROLLEY FINDER.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JAN. ao. 1903. No MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

- I I v l' gil l A UOHNE YS.

' UNITED 'STATE/Sl ratented october 27, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRED A. GRAHAM, FERDINAND F. CARMlENCKE, AND JOHN R. NEELY,

l OF MUNCIE, INDIANAf-` TROLLEY-FINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,311, dated October 27, 1903. Application filed January 30, 1903.1 Serial No.-141,222. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern: f

- Be it known that we, FEED A. GRAHAM,-V4

FERDINAND F. OARMIENGKE, and JOHN R.

NEELY, all citizens of the United States, andv residents of Muncie, in the county'of Dela-YV ware and State ofv Indiana, have invented anew and Improved Trolley-Finder, of whichthe following yis a full, clear, and eXact description. Y l

This invention relates to trolley-iinders that afford means Vfor replacing the trolley when it leaves the line-wire; and has for its object to provide a novel simple attachment for a trolley=supportin g pole which will automatically replace the trolley-wheel upon the linewire when displaced therefrom at either side thereof, a further object being to so construct the improved trolley-finder that there are no obstructive projections above the trolleywheel that might vinterfere with the free ac-` tion of the trolleyor the improved finder. The invention consists in thenovel construction and combination of parts,'as ishereinafter described,and defined inthe appended claims.

Reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters ofV reference indicate corresponding parts 'in all .the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvedtrolley-finder in position on a troll'ey-pole.`

Figa 2 is an enlarged partly-sectional front view of the improved trolley-finder and an edge view of the trolley-wheel supported to rotate between the duplicate replacer-scrolls, Fig! S is an enlarged plan view'in part of two con?" that are details of the improvement.

nected rock-arms and of a supporting-rod therefor seen inthedirection of the arrow fr' in Fig. 1, and Fig. is aside view of one of the rock-arms'complete seen in the direct-ion of the arrow lze in F-ig. 3.

The trolley-pole is of any preferred-construction, 'and at its lowerend is pivoted upon the ordinary stand, consisting of a hollowl casting having two opposite horizontal tubulararms a on a short standard a', seated upon a flat base-plate a2, mounted on a car-roof, (indicated by the line a3.) The pole 5 is yieldingly supported upright for depression into `aninclined position, as indicated in Fig; l, by

the two link-bars b, each having one of its ends 'engaged with a ring b', projected below the trolley-pole pivot b2, said bars, which are shown broken away, in complete form having engagement'with'duplicate springs b3, mounted on extensions a4 of the arms a. The disposal of the springs `and bars b is such thatA the stress of thespringsI pulling oppositely on Ythe ring-eye b' with equal force serves to elevate the trolley pole; but the latter is adaptedl for depression in opposite directions to engage beneath a line-wire A, as indicated fin Fig.' 1.

V-The yoke-frame, technicallyvknown as the harp, comprises two similar arms 6, heldspaced apart and parallel with each other by their integral junction at thelower ends with the hub portion 6a, mounted upon and secured to the upper end of the pole 5 in any preferred manner. The arms 6 of the trol- .ley-harp are separated sufficiently to permit the free' introduction of the trolley-wheel 7 between them, said wheel being secured upon va shaft 8, that extends centrally through and projects at each side of the wheel to aiford "journal ends 8, which loosely engage lateral and`opposite perforations in the upper ends l of the arms, as shown by full and dotted lines Vin Fig. 2. The journal ends 8a of the shaft v8 extend an equal degree outside of the arms Q6 and respectively receive and support loosely 4the two similar members of a rockable frame constructed as follows: Each frame member consists of a bent arm, of which 9 is an upright portion and 9L an integral laterally-pro- Ijected portion. V lUpon the upper end of each .arm member 9 a boss-likehub 9b is formed, that projects from the normal outer side of the arm in an outwardly and upwardly inclined plane. The hub 9b of each arm member 9'is perforated a suitable depth from the normal. inner sid-e of `said arm axially at a engagement with the ends 8' of the shaft-8 roo said ends are respectively grooved peripherally a short distance from their outer ends, and opposite each of said circumferential channels c an internally-threaded perforation is formed in the side wall of a respective hub 9b to receive the threaded body of a setbolt c', which at its inner end has a loose engagement within the channel c opposite which it is disposed, whereby the arms 9 are held to rock and are prevented from displacement. Each lateral member 9, which extends nearly at a right angle from the lower end of the depending member 9, is bent at a suitable point d intermediately of its ends, so as to project a limb 9C at a right angle there from, and at a proper distance from the bend d the arm portion 9L is again bent at a right angle, as shown at d in Fig. 3, thus providing a short outwardly-extending flange 9e in a plane parallel with that of the main portion 9?'. In assembling the two main por tions of the rockable frame the flanges 9e are secured together with a tap-bolt 9g, and it will be seen that this connection of parts will space apart the arm members 9n sufficiently for the free introduction and rotation of the trolley-wheel 7, as indicated in Fig. 3. The free end portions of the similar hubs 9", which project beyond the parts thereof that are laterally perforated for the reception of the set-bolts c', may with advantage be reduced diametrically and rendered cylindrical, as

i shown in Fig. 2, and each hub is axially bored to producea socket which is threaded in its defining-wall.

The trolley-replacer proper comprises the duplicate coniform scrolls 10, that are spirally grooved, as at 10, throughout their length and are so proportioned that their largest ends will be substantially equal in diameter with that of the trolley-wheel 7. The replacer-scrolls 10 receive support from the hubs 9b on the arms 9, and to permit them to be mounted thereon for free rotation said scrolls are recessed a proper depth from their larger ends toward their smaller ends, these recesses 10b each terminating in a true flatbottom wall e for a loose contact with the true free ends of 'the hubs 9b. The solid portion of each replacer-scroll 10 is longitudinally and centrally bored for the reception of a journalstud 11, that loosely lits therein and is provided with a head lliL on its outer end. The other end portion of each journal-stud 11 is reduced in diameter so as to form a shoulder g, and the reduced portion 11b of each stud is threaded to screw into the socket in the outer end of a respective hub 9". As the outward and upward inclination given to each journalstud 1l is the same, it will be evident that the upper surfaces of the scrolls 10 at their innermost endswill be inclined an equal degree toward the upper side edges of the trolleywheel 7 when the parts are operatively assemn bled. The spiral formation of the coarse peripheral groove 10L in each scroll 10 obviously cuts aw'ay a portion of the material from the peripheryat one side of the same, at and near the inner end thereof, so that there will result a radial projection h of the defining side wall of the groove at the side of each scroll opposite that which is reduced, and a corresponding increase in weight will be produced by this deining-wal1h,that terminates the inner end of the spiral groove. spiral groove 10 in each coniform scroll 10 is from the outer end inwardly, so that if the line-wire is lost bythe trolley 7 and seats upon either scrollwhile the car having the trolleypole 5 is in motion the pressure on the scroll due to the weight of the wire will rotate the scroll oppositely from the direction of movenient of the car and transfer the line-wire toward the trolley. Upon the outer end of each replacer-scroll 10 a collar 10c is formed or secured, that serves as a check against the sliding movement of the line-wire off this smaller end of either replacer-scroll with which it may engage. Aguard-arm 12 is provided for each replacer-scroll lO, and comprises a metal strip having one end perforated to slip upon the corresponding journal-stud 11 and be held thereon by the head 11 of the stud, said arms being respectively bent at t below the adjacent collar 10", so as to incline the main portion of each guard-arm downward and toward the harp-arms 6, where said guard-arms terminate and are fastened to the arms 9. The guard-arms 12 are provided to prevent the line-wire or another overhead wire that may fall on either replacer-scroll 10 and that may rebound therefrom from catching beneath the replacer-scroll,and thus impeding the replacer in its operation, as it will be evident that such a misplaced wire will slide outward and upward on the guard-arm and leave it.

Upon the lateral member 9 of each depending arm 9 at a suitable distance from the angularly-disposed limbs 9c said arms are oppositely perforated and threaded for the reception of the short arms 13, that each have a head 13a on their outer ends, whereby said arms are held outwardly and oppositely projected from the parts 9, upon which they are thus loosely mounted.

A connecting-rod 14 is provided for the support of the rocking frame, comprising the bent arms 9, and to this end said rod is fur` cated at each end and is afforded a proper length to extend between the members 9 of the arms 9 and the arms a on the trolley-polesupporting stand. The two forked limbs 14: of the connecting-rod 14E, which are uppermost in service, are loosely secured by their upper extremities upon the outwardly-projected fixed arms 13, as shown at m in Fig. 3.

4A clamp 15 is preferably employed for connecting the forked lower end of the rod 14 with the support of the trolley-pole 5. Said clamp, which is of ordinary form, is held clasped upon one of the horizontal portions a of the stand, and upon each side of the The trend of the IOO IIO

clamp an extremity of a respective limb of the forked lower end of the connecting-rod 14 is pivoted, as is indicated in Fig. 1 at n, as to one of said limbs.

Forrthe proper operation of the complete device the frame comprising the bent arms 9 may in some cases be supported by the rod 14, so that these arms 9 will be upright, or substantially so, and the frame members 9 projected away therefrom. Furthermore, the points of pivotal attachment of thefurcated ends of the rod 14 upon the trolley-stand and rocking-frame arms 9 9a are preferably so arranged that the trolley-pole 5 and connecting-rod 14 will be disposed parallel with each other, and it will be seen that said parallelism will be preserved at all points of rocking movement given to the trolley-pole.

As before explained, the terminal portion h of thedeiining-wall between the turns of they groove 10*L in each scroll 10 adds slight weight to the side on which it is formed, so that on coming to rest each scroll will rock on its supporting-stud 11 until the portion h of the defining rib or wall between the turns of the grooves 10a hangs in a vertical plane below the axis of the shaft 8, which will dispose the inner edge portions of the replacerscrolls 10, that are directly above the portions h, slightly below the periphery of the trolley 7, when the replacer-scrolls hang normally on-their supporting-studs 11.

It will be seen that the gravitation of the portions h into depressed positions when the scrolls 10 are not engaged with a line-wire effects a removal ofthe replacer-scrolls to a point lower than the 'upper edge of the trolley 7, so that switch-shoesor other attachments to the supports of the line-Wire will have proper clearance from the replacerscrolls. It will be also noticed that the outward and upward inclination of the journalstuds 11 disposes the replacer-scrolls 10 thereon so that the upper sides thereof approach a horizontal plane and enable the spirallygrooved formations thereon to readily move the line-wire toward the trolley-wheel without requiring the scroll to raise the Wire up a lsteep incline.

leaves the line-wire A while the car having the trolley-pole 5 thereon is in motion, then without regard to the scroll 10 upon which it rests said wire will cause a rotatable movement of the engaged scroll, which will at rapid intervals raise the portion h of said scroll up to the top edge of the trolley-wheel and incline it toward the same, as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the height of the part h thus periodically turned uppermost being about equal with that of the trolley-rim. As the rotatable movement communicated to the scroll by the imposition of the line-wire A thereon serves to transfer the wire toward the trolley-wheel automatically and at every revolution of the scroll the part h is raised toa level with the edge of the trolley 7, it

will be evident that when the wire rides uponthis high part h said wire will drop therefrominto the groove of the trolley, and thus be quickly replaced upon the trolley.

While it is preferred to employ the connecting-rod 14 for the control ofthe replacerscrolls 10, it is not indispensable, as in somev cases the replacer-scrolls if constructed and supported to rotate as hereinbefore described will operate effectively for the automatic replacement of the line-wire on the trolley Without the aid of the rod 14. Hence we do not restrict the improvement to the cooperative employment of the rod 14 and connections therefor which adapt it to hold the rocking frame 9 9 in a certain position on the harp whereon the trolley-wheel is held to rotate.`

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a supported trolley-harp, of a transverse journal-shaft carried by arms of theharp, and projected therefrom, a frame held to rock on ends of said journal-shaft, hubs on' the frame, projected outward and upward,a j ournal-stud extended outward and upward from each hub, a spirally-grooved replacer-scroll mounted torotate on each journal-stud and having a co1- lar on the outer end, and means for loosely securing the scrolls on the journal-studs.

2. The combination with a supportingstand, springs thereon, a trolley-pole held to rock on the stud and supported by the springs, and a trolley-harp carried by the pole atv its upper end, of a journal-shaft mounted on arms of the harp and projected outwardly therefrom, a trolley-wheel on the journalshaft, between arms of the harp, aframe having outwardly and upwardly projecting hubs, and held to rock on the projecting ends of the journal-shaft, a journalstud projected from the end of each hub, coincident with its axis, and two spirally-grooved coniform replacer-scrolls, respectively held to rotate on the journal-studs, each scroll being overweighted on one side by the completed terminal portion of the spiral rib that defines the spiral groove in said scroll.

3. The combination with a supportingstand, springs thereon, a trolley-pole held to rock on the stand and supported by the springs, a trolley-harp on the upper end of the pole, a trolley-wheel, and a journal-shaft passing through arms of the harp and carrying the wheel, of a frame having depending IOO IIO

members from which extend lateral arms and 1eypo1e,a harp thereon, a trolley-Wheel, and In testimony whereof We have signedoul a journztbshaft extended through the harp names to this specification in the presence of and carrying the Wheel, of two spirally two subscribing witnesses. grooved replacer-scrolls, journal-supports for FRED A GRAHAM 5 said scrolls, a dependingr frame, supported on 1 T the ends of the journal-shaft and carrying the gIgATFII-FQARMIEB CKE journal-supports, and guard-arms extended J from supports of the scrolls downward and 'Vitnesses: toward depending members of the frame, fOr NATI-IAN N. SPENCE,

io engagement therewith. I B. BEI-IYMER. 

